19 Cool Uses For Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is having a moment — and not just in stir fries and baked goods. This slightly-sweet oil is a powerhouse that does everything from remove sticky labels to soothe cuts. With a jar running around $10, there are so many uses for this unique ingredient around your home, you may not even use it for cooking.

  1. Body lotion: Use straight from the jar or make your own homemade coconut oil body lotion that soothes dry skin and also helps prevent age spots.
  2. Treat athlete's foot: Athlete's foot is an itchy bother that's caused by a fungal infection, which loves warm, moist, and dark places (meaning your sweaty feet). Thanks to coconut oil's high amounts of antifungal properties, applying three to four times a day for up to a week will clear up the infection.
  3. Stop squeaks: Next time your door or window screeches, rub a little coconut oil on hinges or edges of frames to stop the annoying noise and keep things moving.
  4. Sticker remover: Tired of the stickiness left over from labels? Use coconut oil to help remove the gunk.
  5. Wood helper: Make dry wood furniture happy again with a quick rub of coconut oil. The creamy oil also helps fill scratches in your favorite wood furniture, making things look new again.
  6. Wound care: Due to the high concentration of antibacterial and soothing properties, smoothing a thin layer of coconut oil over a wound helps it stay clean and heal faster.
  7. Fight yeast infections: Apply a small amount to affected area three to four times a day alongside ingesting up to three tablespoons each day during treatment. Coconut oil is high in lauric and caprylic acids, which have antiviral, antimicrobal, and antifungal properties.
  8. Boost metabolism: Coconut oil has healthy components that tackle harmful bacteria while leaving healthy bacteria alone, helping to balance the flora in the digestive system. This results in feeling better, healthier, and happier. Simply replace cooking oil or butter with coconut oil.
  9. Banish lice: It's a topic most don't want to discuss, but sometimes lice happen. Get rid of them fast by massaging coconut oil into hair and leaving overnight. Comb through hair then wash. The high fat content of the coconut oil literally suffocates the lice and helps them slide off hair, and the treatment is safe to use as often as needed.
  10. Shine leather: If you've got an old couch that's seen better days, rub a bit of coconut oil over the cracks to give it new life.
  11. Car detailing: Apply a small amount of coconut oil to a soft cloth and use for wiping down the inside console of your car. Along with cleaning your vehicle, it delivers a subtle tropical smell that lingers.
  12. Shave cream: Coconut oil is a wonderful emollient, so blend it together with essential oils to create a homemade shave cream that keeps legs smooth and also moisturized.
  13. Stop dog's itch: If you've got a pooch that's got an itch or hot spot, massage a dollop of coconut oil on the area to relieve the irritation and soothe his skin.
  14. Eye makeup remover: Simply swipe on a cotton ball and gently wipe eyes, removing eye makeup. And coconut oil helps fight fine lines, so using it to remove make up is a win-win.
  15. Natural SPF 4: Straight from the jar, coconut oil is a natural SPF 4. Use in a pinch when needed with the benefit that you'll feel like you just came from the tropics.
  16. Refresh cutting boards: If your cutting board is feeling a bit dry, rub with coconut oil, let sit for four hours, then buff with paper towel.
  17. Stop hairballs: Tired of kitty constantly leaving hairballs around your house? Rub a small amount of coconut oil on her paws, which will shine her fur and balance her system, cutting down on unwanted surprises on your floor.
  18. Cooking: Coconut oil has a high smoke point, which means it can be used with high-temp cooking. And coconut oil is a rich source of fatty acids and healthier than trans fats or animals fats.
  19. Fire starter: Next time you're going camping or starting a bonfire, soak cotton balls melted in coconut oil, pack in a sealable bag, then slightly pull apart the ball and light. Toss in the kindling and you've got fire. The soaked balls will burn for five to 10 minutes, helping to create a nice blaze.